Determinants of Agricultural Intensification: The Case of Kembata Tambaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Increases in population density lead to lower farm sizes which have major implications for agricultural intensification. Farmers in the Kembata Tambaro Zone are widely practicing crop intensification through intensive use of improved seed and chemical fertilizer. However, crop intensification is determined by different factors in the study area. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify the potential determinants of cereal intensification in KTZ. The data were collected from both primary and secondary sources through personal interview using structured questionnaire. The data were obtained from 252 sample household heads that were selected through a combination of purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. The descriptive e statistics were used to examine the existing utilization of farm inputs and the yield obtained per hectare among three farm size categories. The finding of the study indicates that small farms use higher per hectare improved seed and fertilizer and earn more crop yield followed by medium farms while large farms utilize lower farm inputs and obtained the lowest yield implying that small farmers are the most efficient with highest yield per hectare. Multiple linear regression function (The linear form of Cobb-Douglas Production Function) was used to find out the determinants of major crops yield. The econometric analysis demonstrated that out of the total 20 variables included in the model, 10 variables including crop area, crop price, hired labor, quantity of fertilizer used, farming experience, age, education, market distance, non-farm income and development agent’s visit are the significant variables affecting major crops yield. The results of this study suggested that there is the need for strengthening a policy option that expands the agricultural extension services more efficiently and farming households’ access to market in the study area. In addition, improving the application and supply of agricultural inputs and enhancing non-farm income sources is extremely imperative.

Keywords: Agricultural intensification, CDPF, land scarcity, farming households, determinants of major crops yield, Ethiopia.